The Australian Government hopes this will help address cost of living pressures for current & future apprentices and trainees.

The Australian Apprenticeship Priority List (AAPL) will now include 19 additional occupations. This shift will provide additional financial support for apprentices and trainees in these newly designated priority occupations – as well as supporting their employers.

The 19 new occupations being added to the 2024 Apprenticeships Priority List are:

1. Ambulance Officer
2. Animal Husbandry Technician
3. Aquaculture or Fisheries Technician
4. Architectural Draftperson
5. Boat Builder and Repairer
6. Earth Science Technician
7. Fire Protection Plumber
8. Flight Attendant
9. Furniture Maker
10. Graphic Pre-press Trades Worker
11. Irrigation Designer
12. Irrigation Technician
13. Light Technician
14. Mine Deputy
15. Nursing Support Worker
16. Out of School Hours Care Worker
17. Pharmacy Technician
18. Shipwright
19. Sound Technician

Financial support through the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List

Eligible apprentices and trainees on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List will be provided with up to $10,000, while eligible employers on the Priority List will receive support of up to $15,000.

Funds will be administered through the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System (AAIS) over the duration of each apprenticeship.

The government hopes these payments will boost the number of people signing up for apprenticeships and traineeships, and encourage them to follow up their studies with jobs in areas experiencing skills shortages across Australia.

Funds are also expected to help apprentices and trainees who might otherwise struggle financially to complete their training, empowering them to walk into successful long-term careers when they do.

Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor said in a statement, “The Australian Apprenticeships Priority List will help boost apprentice and trainee numbers in priority occupations. I want to ensure we are giving every Australian the best opportunity to gain the necessary skills to secure a stable, well-paid and rewarding job, while also developing the skilled workforce our economy needs in priority areas now and into the future.”

Occupations removed from the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List

These 10 occupations have also been removed from the 2024 Australian Apprenticeships Priority List:

1. Blacksmith
2. Gardener (General)
3. Metal Polisher
4. Precision Instrument Maker and Repairer
5. Sports Turf Trades Worker
6. Optical Dispenser / Dispensing Optician
7. Youth Worker
8. Dental Assistant
9. Shearer
10. Wool Classer

How your local CoAct team can help you

Apprenticeships and traineeships are open to people from all walks of life and can be a great for people with a wide range of skills, backgrounds and current circumstances.

Register here today if you would like to know more about how this could work for you, including the support and mentorship available to you and how to access financial support such as this 2024 Apprenticeships Priority List funding through the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System.